[Andy B]

OK then so I'm buying a present for my missus who couldn't find her arse with both hands and a map. So looking at various Sat Nav systems I thought I'd throw it open to you guys to help me decide.

So then....

Do you use a Satnav system?
Which one do you use?
Would you recommend it?
Any others you'd recommend?
Which one's should I steer clear of?

and any other general anecdotes will be gratefully received. Oh I'm probably buying it this wednesday 19th Dec and I'm not spending more than £320 (including accessories)

[Console]

Do you use a Satnav system?

No. I don't think the other questions are relevant to me. Hope that helps.

and any other general anecdotes will be gratefully received.

"Software is like sex," Torvalds* once explained. "It's better when it's free!"

*Linus Torvalds is the creator of the Linux kernel and a leading advocate of the 'open source' movement.

[MK Chris]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gY6ylPZcNpk][/youtube]

[Sunny So Cal]

Love it, Toph!

Andy, as for your question, I borrowed a friend's Tom Tom Sat Nav when I was over in August. I had never used one before when I've been to the UK and found it half useful/half annoyance. I would always prefer to use a map and don't like the reliance on the gadgets. At one point, familiar with the area, I diverged from her directions (because she had me waiting in traffic on some crap little A road and I wanted on the motorway). Anyhow, she would not shut up from the moment I turned off her recommended road. That can get annoying. I ended up pulling over to turn her off.

However, for someone that isn't good with maps, I would think the Tom Tom is a good value. I know Garmin makes some, too, including a really high-end one but I've heard only good things about the Tom Toms. Do your research and read reviews.

[kendra k]

mr kendra k's parents love their tom tom. i find it irritating.

[S4B]

Get them to download the slutty voice, it makes it much more fun. Oooh or Mr T "Turn left at the next junction fool"

[gbm]

Get them to download the slutty voice, it makes it much more fun. Oooh or Mr T "Turn left at the next junction fool"

Wouldnt that get a bit repetitive? - how many different variations of the phrase 'turn left at the next junction fool' are there? - 'Fool, you better turn left at the next junction' possibly, I just think that would get a bit tiresome.
Michael (great name) Caine was on Parkinson last night and mentioned that a voice impersonator has made a Sat Nav voice set of his voice too - that sounds interesting.

Even better would be having you're own voice telling you, not your partners as that would be annoying but you cant complain at yourself giving yourself directions can you? (that didnt quite make sense did it?)

I've heard good things about TomTom and they seem to be the most popular ones, Have you considered something like a pda or Nokia internet tablet and a bluetooth gps reciever to go along with it?: e.g.: Nokia n800 + Navigation Kit (I know they are the same price but its possible to look around

[foot-loose]

The Sat Nav we use at work is built into the car, so thats not much use to you.

I've never used it, but one of my drivers uses Tom Tom - he seems to like it. In fact, I think he would 'be lost without it'.

So yes - Tom Tom it.

[Andy B]

She'd break it or lose it or it'd get eaten by the dog........

I want something that'll just sit in her car and do things with the minimum of fuss.

I've considered recording my own voice for her, but rather than say things like "Turn left here" it'd be more "MIND THAT CAR!" and "PUT YOUR SEATBELT ON!" and my own favourite "The dashboard is not for storing empty cigarette packets and lighters and rubbish and so much junk you can't actually see the spedometre"

I don't know if it'd go down too well though.

[MK Chris]

The Sat Nav we use at work is built into the car, so thats not much use to you.

I've never used it, but one of my drivers uses Tom Tom - he seems to like it. In fact, I think he would 'be lost without it'.

So yes - Tom Tom it.

You should get one of those business GPS systems so you can see when you drivers are stitching you up.

Having said that, it may be overkill for a small business.

[gbm]

I'm sure Footloose trusts his drivers .... dont you foots?

[foot-loose]

Hah

Yes, I trust the guy. It's something we thought about cos then we could track the car and send the customer a text as the car pulls into the road, however we also thought that the driver could just send a text from his mobile.

So that was what we did.

[MK Chris]

Are you condoning sending texts while driving?

[foot-loose]

Obviously the driver would pull over where it was safe to do so, turn the engine off, put his beer down and only then - send the text.